Well, it's almost Xmas so it's time to wish you all a Happy Holiday, with the picture above and, below, something I wrote a few years ago:
ALTERED FATES: 'TWAS THE SCROOGE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house
not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
No stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
for Ebenezer Scrooge was the man who lived there.
When from the chimney there came a loud clatter,
Scrooge sprang from his bed to check out the matter.
Down to the fireplace he flew like a flash,
to see something glinting, on top of the ash.
A cheap-looking trinket, it hung from a chain,
and Scrooge picked it up from where it had lain.
The Medallion of Zulo, as it was known,
would now briefly be his, and be his all alone.
As he slowly examined this new-fallen thing,
it brushed up against a much-treasured ring.
Long had it been kept on a shelf near the fire,
since Belle had returned it while riven with ire.
Scrooge felt a strange tingling run right up his arm,
a curious feeling he viewed with alarm.
His body was changing he quickly could tell,
into the form of his fiancee, Belle.
He rushed to a mirror, mind filled up with awe,
transfixed by the wonder of what he there saw.
For thirty long minutes the changing held sway,
until there stood Belle, having aged not a day.
Her eyes--how they twinkled, how bright and alert!
Her cheeks flushed like roses, her breasts high and pert!
Her sweet little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and her perfect young skin almost white as the snow.
"What do I do now?" Scrooge wondered with dread,
knowing she could not return to her bed.
Her old life was gone and could not be retrieved,
a fact about which she felt strangely relieved.
Then realizing just what must be done,
she left her house and set off at a run.
To the only place she could think of to go,
the home of Belle, now three years a widow.
The older woman listened, her mind all awhirl,
to the curious tale that came from the girl.
Sooner not later, she accepted the truth
told by this lass with the face of her youth.
"I'll help you," she said, "to make a fresh start,"
"but I must be sure that you'll play your part.
It was your great greed that drove me away,
and you must renounce it before you can stay."
"With that face, you could a lost daughter be,
Change, and your mother I'll be happily."
"I'll do as you say," said Scrooge with a smile,
"I'll take my leave now, and return in a while."
And so the new girl went out into the night,
knowing there was a lot she had to put right.
Cousin Fred, and Bob Cratchit & his family,
would have the best Christmas that they'd ever see.
She hopped and she skipped as she went on her way,
her heart filled with the joy of this holiday.
And so it was that Scrooge would not now see,
the terrifying ghost of Jacob Marley.
Once back at her house, Scrooge heard on the roof
the prancing and pawing of a reindeer hoof.
As she took off her coat and was turning around,
down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
and Scrooge laughed when she saw him, in spite of herself.
With a wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
he opened his mouth and these words he then said:
"There's something I lost when I last flew this way,
not meant for you, it fell out of my sleigh.
Though knowing its power and what it can do,
it will have created a much better you."
He spoke no more then, but went straight to his work,
grabbed the Medallion, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
and away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But Scrooge heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"
********************************
With apologies to Charles Dickens and to Clement Clarke
Moore.
Those wishing to see how much of Moore's famous poem I
actually incorporated can find various versions of the
original on any number of websites. Those unfamiliar with
Dickens' story (is that anyone?) will find a synopsis at:
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/christmascarol/summa ry.html
